In this powerful and eye-opening STARRS Town Hall, guest speaker John Guandolo (USNA '89 grad, former Marine officer and FBI Special Agent) outlined his path from FBI counterterrorism work to training government and local entities on the “Red-Green Axis” — the collaboration between Islamist and Marxist movements. He talked about how the U.S. is engaged in a non-kinetic war primarily in the information and counterintelligence space. He explained how Islamist and communist networks operate together at the local level across the country and view themselves in late-stage victory.

John discussed how Sharia is the doctrinal basis for jihad and governance in normative Islam, is taught consistently to Muslim youth, and that Western leaders mischaracterize Islam due to influence operations and deceptive language use. He says U.S. policy fixates on “violent extremism” (a term he argues has no legal meaning) rather than legally defined enemies (e.g., jihadis, communists), which blinds institutions to the true threat and leads to strategic failure.

John said Islamic Sharia-based movements seek to replace the US Constitution, so anyone who swore an oath to the Constitution has a duty to defend it against such efforts--foreign and domestic.

For more information about John as a speaker and the training he offers, go to JohnGuandolo.com. Follow him on X @JGuandolo54271

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For more information about STARRS, go to our website: https://starrs.us which works to eliminate the divisive Marxist-based CRT/DEI/Woke agenda in the Department of Defense and to promote the return to a warfighter ethos of meritocracy, lethality, readiness, accountability, standards and excellence in the military.

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Hot takes made it sound groundbreaking: elected officials urged service members to “disobey unlawful orders.” Anyone who’s worn the uniform knows that duty already exists—and the harder question is how statements like that ripple through a force that must act fast, trust its chain of command, and still honor the law of armed conflict.

In this episode of STARRS & Stripes, host Al Palmer, retired Navy Commander, sits down with a former Air Force JAG Bruce Tucker Smith to unpack what the Uniform Code of Military Justice actually requires, when orders are presumed lawful, and where the bright red lines are in combat.

Our conversation moves from the headlines to the hard edge of modern conflict: narco-terror networks, blurred battlefields, and how Geneva Convention criteria apply when adversaries don’t wear uniforms or follow the rules.

We dig into maritime law, whether a disabled smuggling boat is “distressed” or still a legitimate target, and why humanitarian missions and National Guard disaster response are essential to public trust.

Along the way, we tackle recruiting, morale, and the quiet power of the NCO corps—the leaders who turn strategy into action and shape the character of the force.

We don’t call for theatrical prosecutions to settle political scores. Instead, we make a case for sunlight: clear language, better civics, and honest dialogue about authorities, constraints, and intent. If critics suggest ongoing operations are unlawful, name the statute, name the order, and bring the debate to the proper venues. Meanwhile, we’ll keep telling the full story of military service—from kinetic strikes to lifesaving airlift—because accuracy beats outrage.

If this conversation sharpened your thinking, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help others find it. Your voice keeps the debate honest.

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For more information about STARRS, go to our website: https://starrs.us which works to eliminate the divisive Marxist-based CRT/DEI/Woke agenda in the Department of Defense and to promote the return to a warfighter ethos of meritocracy, lethality, readiness, accountability, standards and excellence in the military.

Join our Mailing List for our weekly newsletter on this issue.

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A voice that lived through Marxism can strip away illusions in seconds. STARRS & Stripes host Commander Al Palmer, USN ret, sits down with Mihaela Fletcher—born in Romania and grew up under communist dictatorship driven by Marxist ideology fully indoctrinated throughout the country.

Mihaela unpacks how grand promises of equality under communism curdled into scarcity, fear, and silence. From ration books and surveillance to Ceausescu’s cult of personality and a violent regime collapse, her story reveals what enforced ideology looks like on the ground.

Mihaela expected better when she became a Romanian diplomat at the UN, but found the same familiar communist patterns: a scandal-ridden aid machine that failed the people it claimed to serve. Declared persona non grata after getting engaged to a U.S. officer, she moved to America and started over—earning advanced nursing degrees and rediscovering freedom through competence, accountability, and service. That’s where our conversation turns homeward: school grade inflation, lowered admissions bars, and administrative policies that pressure faculty while pushing ideological litmus tests. In healthcare and the military, diluted standards aren’t abstract; they put patients and missions at risk.

We connect her lived experience to the stakes inside our armed forces. Integrity, service before self, and excellence are more than mottos when bullets fly. With a military veteran husband and a son at a service academy, she’s clear about what keeps warriors ready—merit, discipline, and truth. We talk about shielding academies from ideological capture, defending rigorous selection and training, and building environments where every cadet can grow in merit and excellence without demeaning quotas based on divisive identities.

Too many young people today who never lived during the Cold War nor were taught about it have gravitated towards communist ideology (see NYC) out of ignorance and naivety. Share this episode with them and tell them about our nation's fight against Marxist ideology worldview during the Cold War and how to recognize the Marxist push to destroy our country.

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For more information about STARRS, go to our website: https://starrs.us which works to eliminate the divisive Marxist-based CRT/DEI/Woke agenda in the Department of Defense and to promote the return to a warfighter ethos of meritocracy, lethality, readiness, accountability, standards and excellence in the military.

Join our Mailing List for our weekly newsletter on this issue.

Follow STARRS:
X | Facebook | LinkedIn | Rumble | YouTube | Truth | Gettr | Gab

Support the Mission: Make a tax-deductible donation to STARRS.